BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Russian top negotiator Alexander Losyukov arrived in the Chinese capital Wednesday for the upcoming six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Losyukov is the first of the foreign delegates to arrive here for the talks. Representatives from the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan are expected to arrive later Wednesday.

The Japan's abduction issue should not hinder the upcoming negotiations, Losyukov told reporters upon his arrival at the airport, adding that Russia supports to set up working groups within the framework of six-party talks at an early date.

The third phase of the fifth round of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue will be resumed in Beijing on Feb. 8.

Before his departure for Beijing, Losyukov said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the coming negotiations and believed certain progress would be possible.

The previous phase of the six-party talks recessed in December last year after five days of negotiations which produced no breakthrough.